The Economic Consequences of Homelessness in The US

lacking necessities and support needed to form a solid education. This follows students
as they continue in education. In many cases this hinders the possibility for America's
youth to continue on to higher education. The grades and credits just are not attained in
many cases, and the lack of guidance in the schools leaves the children of the working
poor with no degree. Also, the lack of funds for continuing education causes these
children to fall behind. In many cases, their parents did not continue on into higher
education and because of this have a difficult time finding jobs with salaries that can
support a family. Today a college degree is a requirement for many jobs, and it is the
low skill jobs that usually only require a high school degree or GED. The inequality in
available education continues the vicious cycle of families entering into the working
poor.
Transportation
Given the fact that many working poor people do not own a car or cannot afford to drive
their car, where they live can significantly limit where they are able to work, and vice
versa. Given the fact that public transportation in many US cities is sparse, expensive,
or non-existent, this is a particularly salient obstacle. Some working poor people are
able to use their social networks—if they have them—to meet their transportation
needs. In a study on low-income single mothers, Edin and Lein found that single
mothers who had someone to drive them to and from work were much more likely to be
able to support themselves without relying on government aid.
Basic Necessities
Like the unemployed poor, the working poor struggle to pay for basic necessities like
food, clothing, housing, and transportation. In some cases, however, the working poor's
basic expenses can be higher than the unemployed poor's. For instance, the working
poor's clothing expenses may be higher than the unemployed poor's because they must
purchase specific clothes or uniforms for their jobs. Also, because the working poor are
spending much of their time at work, they may not have the time to prepare their own
food. In this case, they may frequently resort to eating fast food, which is less healthful
and more expensive than home-prepared food.
Childcare
Working poor parents with young children, especially single parents, face significantly
more childcare-related obstacles than other people. Often, childcare costs can exceed a
low-wage earners' income, making work, especially in a job with no potential for
advancement, an economically illogical activity. However, some single parents are able
to rely on their social networks to provide free or below-market-cost childcare. There are
also some free childcare options provided by the government, such as the Head Start
Program. However, these free options are only available during certain hours, which
may limit parents' ability to take jobs that require late-night shifts.The U.S. "average"
seems to suggest that for one toddler, in full-time day care, on weekdays, the cost is
approximately $600.00 per month. But, that figure can rise to well over $1000.00 per
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